Air Mattresses

Best air beds

The Aerobed air mattress that has received the most attention from owners and professional reviewers is the Premier Comfort Zone Raised (*est. $200 to $300, depending on size) . This air bed, which is available in twin, full or queen sizes, inflates to a height of two feet, comparable to a standard mattress on a bed frame. Like all Aerobed mattresses, the Comfort Zone Raised has a built-in electric pump, with a "Comfort Control Wand" that allows for small user adjustments. Because of its height, the Aerobed is as easy to make up and get up from as a regular bed, which is no small matter for those with joint or mobility issues.

In the top-ranked review in our All Reviews chart, from the online magazine Slate, writer Torie Bosch gives the Aerobed Premier Comfort Zone Raised her highest rating, saying she "fell asleep quickly and got some high-quality shut eye." The only downside, she says, is that the Aerobed air mattress is bulky and heavy, but "I’d rather have a comfortable bed to offer my guests than space to store a few extra shoes." Other reviewers agree with Bosch’s assessment. The U.K. Sunday Mirror says the Aerobed Raised "looks and feels like a real bed," and owners posting to InfomercialRatings.com are mostly enthusiastic. Echoing Bosch, The Wall Street Journal’s "Catalog Critic" says the Aerobed Raised air mattress is very comfortable, but hard to fold.

Although reviewers like its features, the Aerobed Raised weighs over 40 pounds (deflated, for the full size bed), so it's not very portable and takes up more storage space. It comes with a storage bag, along with a removable bed skirt and mattress cover.

Frustratingly, many of the reviews we found recommend only the "Aerobed" -- but from the context, it’s clear that the writers are referring to the standard Aerobed mattress, the (un-raised) Premier Comfort Zone (*est. $100 to $200, depending on size) . Like the Raised, the Comfort Zone air bed is available in twin, full and queen sizes, but unlike the Raised, it inflates to a height of only nine inches off the floor. In her air-mattress review for Slate, Torie Bosch says the Comfort Zone was easy to set up and stayed "full and firm" overnight. However, she says she woke up feeling stiff and sore, and has complaints about the air bed’s low height (though, to be fair, this is fairly standard among air mattresses). Other reviewers are more forgiving, calling the Comfort Zone a reliable mattress that won’t spring leaks while it gives overnight guests a good night’s rest. Since it doesn't have a second layer and is much shorter than the Aerobed Raised, the Premier Comfort Zone weighs a more manageable 18.6 pounds (for the full size) and takes up less storage space. This model also comes with a removable and washable mattress cover. The full size of both air beds has a weight limit of 650 pounds.

Aerobed also offers a version specifically for children. Although the Aerobed for Kids (*est. $70) isn’t included in any professional reviews, the 100 or so owners posting on Amazon.com give it near-perfect ratings. Parents say this inflatable 50" x 25" air mattress is ideal for overnight trips, since it can easily be deflated and stuffed into a backpack or knapsack, and also that it’s very sturdy (an important consideration, since toddlers will just as soon jump up and down on an air mattress as sleep on one). The kids’ version of the Aerobed inflates to four-inches high and has a "safety cushion" around the edges so toddlers don't roll off.

Although Aerobed is clearly the leader in the field, we did find reviews for air beds from other manufacturers. The Frontgate EZ Bed (*est. $180 to $200, depending on size) features prominently in the two comparative reviews of air mattresses at The Wall Street Journal. In a roundup by the newspaper’s "Catalog Critic" in January 2005, the Frontgate is rated ahead of the Aerobed Pillowtop Raised (a version of the Raised that has since been discontinued). Kara Swisher calls the EZ Bed air mattress "the most elegant and handsome bed on the market." In a second roundup published in November 2005 by Charles Passy, the Frontgate air bed is described as easy to set up, but uncomfortable (his assessment is based on a single night’s sleep and, to be fair, Frontgate says the bed requires a few nights of use to work out the kinks).

What sets the Frontgate EZ Bed air mattress apart from the Aerobed Premier Comfort Zone Raised is that the EZ includes its own metal stand, which folds out under the inflatable mattress to raise the bed to a standard height of two feet. Also, we gather from The Wall Street Journal reviews that the Frontgate air bed is easier to set up than the Aerobed -- all you have to do is turn a dial and the bed inflates and automatically assembles its own stand. However, the metal stand makes this air mattress bulkier to store and it weighs about 42 pounds for the full size. The user weight limit (400 pounds for the full size) is much lower than for the Aerobed mattresses.

If you don’t feel like spending $100 to $300 for an inflatable bed, reviewers point to a reliable budget model -- the Home Trends Raised Air Mattress (*est. $40 to $60, depending on size), which is sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores or via Wal-Mart’s website. The Home Trends air bed finishes just behind the Aerobed Premier Comfort Zone Raised in Slate’s test; writer Kara Swisher says it’s easy to set up, rolls up to a portable size and stays inflated all night long. However, we gather from user comments on the web that while the Home Trends air mattress may not have the long-term reliability of the Aerobed or Frontgate beds, it is still good for occasional overnight guests. Be aware, however, that the Home Trends air bed has only a 90-day warranty. The Aerobed mattresses are warranted for three years while the Frontgate air bed has a one-year warranty.

Important Features: Air mattresses

Reviewers say the following about shopping for an inflatable mattress:

• Figure out how often the mattress will be used. If you anticipate using your air mattress as often as you use a regular mattress (or in place of your regular mattress), you’re better off buying a raised air bed. If you’re simply buying an air mattress for the occasional overnight guest, a standard nine-inch-deep bed should be all you need. If you or your guest have a bad back or joint problems, you’re probably better off with a taller bed.

• Look for a built-in electric pump. All the mattresses listed in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers have built-in pumps, so they can be plugged in and automatically inflated in one to three minutes. Cheaper air beds come with manual pumps, which require more time and exertion.

• Consider storage. Taller air beds, as well as those that come with a metal frame, take up more storage space and aren't as portable as simpler air beds.

• Give the mattress a chance. It can often take a few nights’ sleep to figure out the ideal level of inflation for a new air mattress or to allow it to work out some kinks. If you don’t sleep comfortably the first night, be patient and use the mattress two or three more times. Aerobed models have a 30-day return policy.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart. The Consensus Report also appears in the Full Story.

Inflatable mattresses by Aerobed are picked more often by experts and owners than any other brand. The Frontgate EZ Bed appears in only two reviews, but both are from a reliable source, The Wall Street Journal. Owners give the Home Trends Raised Air Mattress good reviews as a budget choice, but be aware that this model has only a 90-day warranty. Frontgate gives owners a one-year warranty and Aerobed models come with a three-year warranty.